1/350 US Coast Guard HH-65C Dolphin Helicopter

[Rhino]

So it begins..............

With Trumpeter 1/350 Z-9C helicopters I traded for. One of these will become......

This, but with a rescue hoist instead of torpedoes that have a Chinese 1-Yuan deposit on them. Trumpeter molds these in a really vinyl-ish, slippery, clear plastic. Evidently they think modelers are looney enough to mask windscreens in this scale.
Not THIS fat kid!
Not a moment to lose, Gents! The Game is afoot! Only 29 days to go!!

 

[moon puppy]

 

[Rhino]

#4 Steel balls for nose weight. Black Sharpie for finding gaps and gentle sanding. Assemble the tail planes. (not that easy, truly.)
Maybe it's because I assemble lots of resin parts, but this clear plastic is a bitch. Slippery and shiny. It doesn't like glue, solvent or C/A.
God alone knows how it will paint up. The surface detail looks pretty decent but priming will tell the tale.
Windows will be painted as well. No peeking at the Dolphin's balls.

NOW!

Building one little-bitty USCG helicopter for MMM doesn't seem really fair to everyone else, SO!

I will build 2! (and probably finish another one) HH-52A Seaguard "Flying Lifeboat". I didn't like the tail plane on the Seaguard, so I fixed it. The 1/350 3D print came with the main rotor, but you have to make/find a 2-bladed tail rotor. Hmm..............
"Oh Poo, Rhino! You would have to build these for the Big Cutter kit anyway! Cheater!"
Quite correct, but not ACTUALLY "cheating". "Aircraft 1/72 or smaller" PFFGHT!
Stinker? probably. Opportunist? Certainly. Cheater? Oh Puh-leeze!
Get busy! Have fun! Watch out for the dogshit!

 

[moon puppy]

 

[Rhino]

Reefer gray primer. Looks pretty good! The Trumpeter ducted tail rotor is pretty nifty!

Shapeways says their 3D prints like acrylic paint better. Tamiya flat white for the Seaguard. The pictured HH-52A is the paint scheme I will attempt. I made my tail rotor from .010 plastic strip. I was mistaken. the side door is closed on this mix-master. Rescue hoists are being fashioned from 1/700 life raft canisters. Mounting brackets for the hoists will need to be built by the modeler if they want to add them.
What fun!
Thanks again for looking in!

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Looking good so far Chris!

 

[Rhino]

Rescue hoist for the Dolphin. A little overscale. Maybe not the best choice of backdrops?

The brass came for the Pelican. Maybe the same USCG HH-3F that rescued Maverick and recovered Goose' body?

 

[moon puppy]

Please tell me all that brass does not go one that one bird.

 

[Rhino]

Please tell me all that brass does not go one that one bird.

This brass set that fits 6 Trumpeter 1/350 SH-3 Seaking helicopters. HH-3E Jolly Green Giant helos used similar rotors and tail rotors.
There may be 2 1/350 HH-3F Peilican rescue helicopters.

The 3D print texture and thick paint made it look like a frosted JU-52.
Do over on the Pelican paint.

Orange Dolphin and white Seaguard. USCG Helicopter orange is FS12197 International Orange. Mine is Model Master Boyd's Sunburst Orange enamel.
Thanks again for looking in!

 

[moon puppy]

Rather clown fishy...

 

[jknaus]

Way cool. Now you just need to put a rare earth magnet on the flight deck and she'll sit there no matter what the sea state.
James

 

[Rhino]

Rather clown fishy...

Why you young whelp!
Just wait!

 

[Rhino]

It tickles me that the clownfish in the 1/350 Orca kit is still of note.
This gives me another idea. Shit-O-Dear!

 

[moon puppy]

Shit-O-Dear!

 

[Rhino]

Paint, winders and decals.
Notes: Paint the white stripe further aft of the Dolphin. Make smaller "US Coast Guard" decals that fit the sides of the Dolphin.
Womp up Air Station name decals. They are different names than patrol stations.

I dropped/lost the last decal for the tail of the Dolphin.
I did dab it with SolvaSet for good measure!

 

[Gator]

Looking good!

 

[Rhino]

The Seaguard is almost done. Adding the rescue hoist and registration number will do it!

Revised decals with 1/350 USCG helicopters and air stations foremost in mind. I matched the reggie numbers with air stations for the 1/350 HH-52A and the HH-3F Pelicans. You will need your Opti-Visor the read and place these! Both versions of these will come in the kit to make sure all the bases are covered.
Microscale Liquid Decal Film has been added to tlarmodels.com for sale for modelers to use sealing inkjet decals or restoring old sheets.
I am always thinking! I'm never bored either.

 

[moon puppy]

Nice job Chris.

 

[Gator]

Great job Chris.

 

[Rhino]

The Helicopters for the 1/350 scale Reliance class cutter are both done! Each is paired with the appropriate chronological superstructure.
The modern Dolphin is cool, but there's a certain nostalgia about clattering along, not terribly fast, in the ol' HH-52A Seaguard.

Building the rescue hoist took some ingenuity on the "Flying Lifeboat" . Hoist parts are up to the model maker. Not everyone is looney enough to add these like I did. BUT! If I can do it anyone can.

Thanks for playing Micro Model Month with me! I enjoy this no-end!
Omaha show, Runzas and fix an esteemed US Navy Submarine Vet's potty tomorrow!